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Written by Adrian
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Feb 15, 2006 at 11:26 AM |
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Morning everyone, I got sent this today - a good point, well made, I think. How often do we prepare ourselves to come to church? Or cluster or homegroup for that matter. My preparation for coming to God's house is generally to wake up late, throw on some clothes, shovel down breakfast, and then drive across town too fast to arrive for the end of the notices! How about you? Hope you have a good day. Adrian
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Exodus 27 v 1-8
“Make an altar of acacia wood, four and one-half feet high. It should be square—seven and one-half feet long and seven and one-half feet wide. Make each of the four corners of the altar stick out like a horn, in such a way that the corners with their horns are all one piece. Then cover the whole altar with bronze.
“Use bronze to make all the tools and dishes that will be used on the
altar: the pots to remove the ashes, the shovels, the bowls for sprinkling blood, the meat forks, and the pans for carrying the burning wood.
“Make a large bronze screen to hold the burning wood, and put a bronze ring at each of the four corners of it. Put the screen inside the altar, under its rim, halfway up from the bottom.
“Make poles of acacia wood for the altar, and cover them with bronze.
Put the poles through the rings on both sides of the altar to carry it. Make the altar out of boards and leave the inside hollow. Make it as you were shown on the mountain.
Notes
Acacia wood is common in the Sinai Peninsula. It is darker and harder than oak and is avoided by wood-eating insects so it was a good choice of material generally for building but particularly appropriate for building an altar where blood would be spilt.
The horns on each corner of the altar were symbols of help and refuge.
They also symbolised the atoning power of the altar. Some of the blood was sprinkled on the horns of the altar before the rest was poured out at the base.
This altar was designed for burnt offerings and therefore not easy reading for the squeamish! You can read more about burnt offerings in Leviticus chapter 1.
Inside the Holy Tent the metal chosen was gold, but outside the tent bronze was used. All the utensils on the altar were made of this metal, as was the grating which was an open mesh to allow a draught for the fire.
The size of the altar means that it would have dominated the entrance to the Holy Tent as it was over seven feet square. Its position in the courtyard outside the entrance to the Holy Tent suggests that the worshipper could only approach God after offering a sacrifice to atone for sin.
Animals offered would be a bull, ram, or dove - but poor people could offer a pigeon. The purpose of the burnt offering was a voluntary act of worship; atonement for unintentional sin, or expression of devotion, commitment and complete surrender to God.
We no longer have these rituals, and modern safety regulations would no doubt prevent churches from incinerating animals directly in front of their doors. But how well prepared are we now as we enter church.
As we come corporately into the presence of God, are we too casual?
Prayer
Lord, so often I blunder into church chattering and rush around giving out notices before the beginning of a service. Please help me to make appropriate preparations as I come into your presence. Remind me to talk to you before the service and to my friends afterwards. Amen
This week's writer: Jan Harney - Activate
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Last Updated ( Feb 19, 2006 at 08:08 PM )
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